News

PRAXI Network, a unit of the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH) and coordinator of the Enterprise Europe Network–Hellas, together with Brookstreet Equity Partners LLP, a London-based venture capital firm, announce the official launch of the Female Entrepreneurship for Innovation & Excellence Initiative (FENIX).

Female Entrepreneurship for Innovation & Excellence Initiative (FENIX)

This initiative follows the highly successful collaboration between the two organizations through the PRAXI x Brookstreet Entrepreneurship Competition and represents a new, comprehensive effort to promote female entrepreneurship and innovation in Europe and globally.

The announcement coincides with Women’s Entrepreneurship Day (November 19), highlighting the need to recognize and support women who play a key role in shaping the European innovation ecosystem.

The Need for the Initiative

According to international data, less than 2% of global venture capital funding is directed to female-led businesses, despite the fact that these businesses demonstrate:

• Higher investment returns

• Greater capital efficiency

• Stronger ESG compliance

Increasing the participation of women in entrepreneurship is estimated to potentially add over €800 billion to the European GDP, making this initiative strategically significant.

Objectives of the FENIX Initiative

The FENIX initiative aims to create a strong support framework for women entrepreneurs through:

• Provision of practical technical support, access to financing tools, and specialized mentoring

• Enhancement of international visibility for female founders and innovative businesses

• Implementation of programs and actions that strengthen female innovation

• Empowerment of women in high-tech and strategically important sectors

Core Pillars of the FENIX Initiative

The initiative is structured around two main pillars: the FENIX Competition and the FENIX Forum.

FENIX Competition

This is a new competition exclusively for startups and scaleups led by women with a strong innovation component.

Key features of the competition:

• Ensures broad and equitable access for female teams at national and European levels

• Technical preparation and advisory support from the PRAXI Network for all participation phases, including readiness for financing tools such as the EIC Accelerator

• Joint evaluation and guidance by specialized professionals from Brookstreet and the PRAXI Network

• Promotion of top candidates to the finals of the Brookstreet–PRAXI Entrepreneurship Awards, with enhanced visibility to investors and business stakeholders

• Provision of specialized EIC Coaching by the PRAXI Network’s innovation team

• Extensive promotion of participating businesses through the communication networks of both organizations

FENIX Forum

The FENIX Forum will be the initiative’s flagship annual event, bringing together leading women entrepreneurs, executives, investors, and representatives of the innovation ecosystem.

Key elements of the Forum:

• Keynote speeches by members of the FENIX Advisory Board (FAB) on innovation, leadership, sustainability, and business developments

• Specialized thematic discussions on access to capital, growth strategies, regulatory requirements, ESG, dual-use technologies, and Longevity & HealthTech

• Presentations of selected startups to investors and institutional partners

• Closed roundtable discussions for FAB members and collaborating organizations

• Publication of the annual Women Innovators Report, featuring data, analysis, and best practices

• Honorary awards for women distinguished in innovation, entrepreneurship, and social impact

Women’s Entrepreneurship Day (WED)

Women’s Entrepreneurship Day is a global movement celebrated annually on November 19 to honor and empower women entrepreneurs worldwide. Its goal is to raise awareness of the challenges women face in entrepreneurship and contribute to economic growth by highlighting their role as innovators and job creators. WED was founded by Wendy Diamond, inspired by her work on microfinance programs for women living in poverty in Honduras. The movement is coordinated globally by the Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization (WEDO).

Program Supporters

PRAXI Network

The PRAXI Network is a unit of the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH), the largest research organization in Greece, with a mission to support innovation and technology transfer on a national and European scale. Operating in seven cities across Greece since 1991, the PRAXI Network has been a cornerstone in promoting innovation and strengthening Greek and European research ecosystems by bridging the gap between research and industry and empowering businesses and organizations through advisory services, access to funding, networking opportunities, and commercialization of research outcomes.

Dr. Kostas Vavekis, Technical Director, PRAXI Network:

“The collaboration between the PRAXI Network and Brookstreet has already demonstrated the potential of the Greek and European innovation ecosystem. With the FENIX Initiative, we take a significant step toward empowering women entrepreneurs, providing them with the right tools, specialized guidance, and the visibility they deserve. By combining our national innovation infrastructure with Brookstreet’s international investment expertise, we create a real pathway for women-led businesses to scale, compete equally, and thrive globally.”

Brookstreet Equity Partners LLP

Brookstreet Equity Partners LLP (“Brookstreet”) is a globally recognized private equity and venture capital firm investing in innovations that deliver measurable outcomes in Digital Transformation, Green Transition, Longevity, and Dual-Use Technologies. Based in Mayfair, London, it collaborates with over 150 founders, strategic partners, institutional investors, and family offices across the US, Europe, MENA, and Asia, supporting companies and founders with resilience, deep expertise, commercial momentum, and global scalability potential.

Omiros Sarikas, Founder & CEO, Brookstreet Equity Partners LLP:
“Women are at the forefront of innovation, leadership, and economic transformation, yet their work remains systematically underfunded and undervalued. Through the FENIX initiative, we are committed to changing this reality. Together with the PRAXI Network, we are creating a platform that provides meaningful access, support, and opportunities for female founders to shine, grow, and shape the future of technology, sustainability, and society.”

More Information

PRAXI Network
Kolokotroni 8, 105 61, Athens, Greece
E: praxi@praxinetwork.gr | P: +30 210 360 7690

Brookstreet Equity Partners LLP
42 Berkeley Square, Mayfair, London, W1J 5AW, UK
E: info@brookstreetequity.com & FENIX@brookstreetequity.com | P: +44 20 7318 0800